He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Coombes. His father was born in Tony Stratford in Wiltshire, possibly explaining his son’s later choice of regiment. Joseph was a bus driver for the London Public Transport Board and they lived at 261 The Vale in Acton. James gained a London County Junior Scholarship in 1933, while the family were living at Buckingham Terrace, Kensington. He went on to attend St Clement Danes Grammar School in East Acton, matriculating in 1938. In his final year he showed he was not just academic, breaking the school long jump record. By Sep 1939 James (Jimmy) was a student in Oxford, lodging with Mr & Mrs Arthur Hill at 75 Weyland Road, Oxford.
He married Daphne Margery Millest in Staines Middlesex late in 1941. The couple met in a pub in Hampton in early 1941 where Daphne’s younger sister Betty, aged just 15, worked as a barmaid. Their mother arrived and saw Daphne talking to a group of soldiers. She said "Betty stop talking to those common soldiers." To which Jimmy replied, "Who are you calling common."
Later in the war Daphne was walking in East Molesey, Surrey, when a jeep carrying American soldiers began to whistle and shout, which she ignored. One soldier called out, "Leave her sarge, that broad will only talk to officers." The local American soldiers later christened her Ginger Rogers, after the movie star.
They had two sons born Sep 1943 and Jun 1950.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalby Hall, Lincolnshire | Intelligence Officer | 22 Apr 1944 | Jul 1944 |
| Lincolnshire | Intelligence Officer | Apr 1944 | Jul 1944 |
3 Oct 1942 Commissioned Second Lieutenant Wiltshire Regiment.
3 Apr 1943 Promoted Lieutenant.
Captain Coombes appears to have taken over as Intelligence Officer for Lincolnshire in early 1944. He also appears to have been responsible for both Operational and Special Duties in the area, which happened in one or two other areas.
He is recorded as Specially Appointed in the Army List for Second Quarter 1944, which is typical of officers attached to Auxiliary Units.
8 Jul 1944 Promoted Temporary Captain. It is likely he may been appointed Acting Captain on joining Auxiliary Units at an earlier date as an Intelligence Officer, but this is not recorded.
He remained in the Army after the war.
9 Nov 1948 Transferred to the Intelligence Corps, retaining seniority 26 Apr 1945.
1 June 1950 Promoted Captain.
1 May 1954 Granted Acting Rank of Major.
26 Apr 1956 Promoted Major Territorial Army.
1 Nov 1956 Transferred to Territorial Army Reserve of Officers from Active List.
WO 199/3265
Dave Hunter / Mark Sans
Quarterly Army List 1944 Third Quarter p1248f
London Gazette 3 Nov 1942, 1 Feb 1949, 21 July 1950, 11 June 1954, 21 Dec 1956, 18 Sep 1956
Marylebone Mercury 16 Jul 1933
Middlesex County Times 20 Jul 1938
Acton Gazette 21 Jul 1939
1939 Register
Ancestry UK